TITLE:
Public Sector Responses to Jail Mental Health: A Review with Recommendations for Future Research
AUTHORS:
Ronald Helms, Ricky S. Gutierrez, Debra Reeves-Gutierrez
KEYWORDS:
Mental Health; Jails; Community Mental Health; Mental Health Research; Society and Mental Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Sociology Mind,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
21,
2014
ABSTRACT: The history of public mental health intervention in the US has been uneven and in some instances is characterized by a strong overtone of neglect. While clinical research in primarily private settings has generated findings that give a strong sense of “what works” in mental health diagnosis and treatment, this review pays special attention to the distribution of mental illness among jailed populations. Local jail systems house a substantial number of mentally challenged individuals but receive less attention than is warranted given their numbers. This paper concludes with a plea for research with a focus on the community determinants of mental health systems in order to enhance delivery of services and increase the likelihood of reaching those most in need of mental health treatment.